Vatican puts cap on costs for sainthood cases

The Vatican said Tuesday it has put a cap of sorts on the often-spiraling budgets for sainthood cases, another nod to Pope Francis' call for sobriety.

Cardinal Angelo Amato, head of the Vatican's saint-making office, announced the change during a meeting Monday of postulators, the officials who shepherd sainthood cases through the lengthy investigations of would-be saints' lives and miracles.

He said postulators must now abide by a "reference price" to curb overall expenditure and make the process more equitable for less well-funded cases.

It's no secret that cases supported by wealthy donors often move faster through the process since more resources can be put toward the investigations.